Wildlife: butterflies, other insects and spiders: general interest Books
Workman Publishing Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract
Book Synopsis“No matter the size or shape of your growing area, this will guide you through creating a butterfly-friendly space.” —Mother Earth News Welcome the world’s most exquisite visitors to your garden! Gardening for Butterflies, by the experts at the Xerces Society, introduces you to a variety of butterflies who need our help, and shows you how to design a habitat where they will thrive. This optimistic call to arms is packed with everything you need to create a beautiful, pollinator-friendly garden. You will learn why butterflies matter, why they are in danger, and what simple steps we can take to make a difference. You'll also learn how to choose the right plants and how to create a garden that flutters and flourishes with life.
£19.00
Workman Publishing Storey's Guide to Keeping Honey Bees, 2nd
Book SynopsisThis trusted handbook is a must-have for novice and seasoned beekeepers alike. Now totally redesigned and featuring color photos and graphics, the second edition also includes up-to-date information on honey bee health. The go-to reference presents comprehensive yet accessible information on everything from planning hives and installing a colony to preventing disease and managing productive hives that will bear bountiful honey harvests year after year.
£18.04
Workman Publishing 100 Plants to Feed the Monarch: Create a Healthy
Book SynopsisThe plight of the monarch butterfly has captured public attention and sparked widespread interest in helping to save their dwindling populations. In this in-depth portrait of the monarch butterfly—covering its life cycle, its remarkable relationship with milkweed, its extraordinary migration, and the threats it now faces due to habitat loss and climate change—detailed instructions on how to design and create monarch-friendly landscapes are enriched by guidance on observing and understanding butterfly behavior and habits. Following the model of their previous best-selling book, 100 Plants to Feed the Bees, the Xerces Society provides at-a-glance profiles of the plant species that provide monarchs with nourishment. The plants, which are all commercially available, range from dozens of species of milkweed—the only food of monarch caterpillars—to numerous flowering plants, shrubs, and trees that provide nectar for the adult butterfly, including those that bloom in late season and sustain monarchs in their great migration. Gorgeous photographs of monarchs and plants, plus illustrations, maps, and garden plans, make this a visually engaging guide.
£13.29
Counterpoint Nature Matrix: New and Selected Essays
Book Synopsis
£14.39
Briza Remarkable insects of South Africa
Book Synopsis
£999.99
Saraband The Dragonfly Diaries: The Unlikely Story of
Book SynopsisBritain is home to some forty species of dragonfly, and public interest in their plight is high right now thanks to their primeval beauty, aerobatic grace and a growing realisation of their importance for water eco-systems. In ‘The Dragonfly Diaries’, Ruary Mackenzie Dodds shares his quirky fascination for these remarkable creatures over the 25 years he has been photographing and working with them. Combining fascinating description of the lives of dragonflies, with a diary chronicling the ups and downs of establishing Britain’s first public dragonfly sanctuary, ‘The Dragonfly Diaries’ is a must for nature buffs and for anyone who wants to be inspired by the resolve and dedication of a man on a mission to save these critically important insects.Trade Review"This lovely book catalogues [Ruary's] journey... and cements his status as one of Britain's greatest living naturalists" -- Chris Packham“His writing reminded me of Eric Newby’s style… it is a story of a love of dragonflies, and a story of dragonfly lovers too… I liked it a lot.” -- Mark Avery“This is a wonderful book, it is inspirational. A must have for any one that is thinking about getting into dragonflies!” -- British Dragonfly Society“Irresistible and immensely warming. [Dodds] has a lovely turn of phrase and the reader is right there with him, absorbing the magic.” -- Peter Mayhew * University of York, Antenna Journal *
£11.69
The University of Chicago Press Infested How the Bed Bug Infiltrated Our
Book SynopsisIntroduces the biological histories of bed bugs, and the ways in which humans have responded to them. The author explores the history of bed bugs and their disappearance in the 1950s after the introduction of DDT, charting how current infestations have flourished in direct response to human chemical use as well as the ease of global travel.Trade Review"Our encounters with bed bugs used to be limited to wishes for a good night's sleep. But now they're everywhere - in hotels, apartments, and even subways. In her fascinating book Infested, Borel chronicles the renaissance of this frightful insect and leaves us marveling at their remarkable biology." -Carl Zimmer, author of A Planet of Viruses
£24.00
University of Texas Press Bark Beetles in North American Conifers A System
Book SynopsisThis book brings together in one volume both theory and a wealth of empirical data gathered by researchers from all the fields in which bark beetles are studied: ecology, evolutionary biology, population genetics, entomology, and forestry.
£35.10
University of Washington Press Insect Histories of East Asia
Book SynopsisTable of ContentsAcknowledgments A Note on Terms and Conventions Chronology of Dynasties, Reign Periods, and Countries Introduction David A. Bello and Daniel Burton-Rose Part One: Conceptual Categorization and the Philology of Chong 1. What Did It Take to Be a Chong? Profile of a Polysemous Character in Early China Federico Valenti 2. The Masculine Bee: Gendering Insects in Chinese Imperial-Era Literature Olivia Milburn 3. Manchu Insect Names: Grasshoppers, Locusts, and a Few Other Bugs in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries Mårten Söderblom Saarela Part Two: Insect Impacts on the Exercise of State Power 4. Locusts Made Simple: Holding Humans Responsible for Insect Behavior in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century China David A. Bello 5. A Silkworm Massacre: Agricultural Development and Loss of Indigenous Diversity in Early Twentieth-Century Korea Sang-ho Ro 6. “Lives without Mosquitoes and Flies”: Eradication Campaigns in Postwar Japan Kerry Smith Part Three: The Institutionalization of Entomology in Twentieth-Century China 7. Circumscribing China with Insects: A Manual of the Dragonflies of China and the Indigenization of Academic Entomology in the Republican Period Daniel Burton-Rose 8. The Dialectics of Species: Chen Shixiang, Insect Taxonomy, and the “Species Problem” in Socialist China Lijing Jiang Glossary of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Terms Bibliography Contributors Index
£110.48
University of Washington Press Insect Histories of East Asia
Book SynopsisTable of ContentsAcknowledgments A Note on Terms and Conventions Chronology of Dynasties, Reign Periods, and Countries Introduction David A. Bello and Daniel Burton-Rose Part One: Conceptual Categorization and the Philology of Chong 1. What Did It Take to Be a Chong? Profile of a Polysemous Character in Early China Federico Valenti 2. The Masculine Bee: Gendering Insects in Chinese Imperial-Era Literature Olivia Milburn 3. Manchu Insect Names: Grasshoppers, Locusts, and a Few Other Bugs in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries Mårten Söderblom Saarela Part Two: Insect Impacts on the Exercise of State Power 4. Locusts Made Simple: Holding Humans Responsible for Insect Behavior in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century China David A. Bello 5. A Silkworm Massacre: Agricultural Development and Loss of Indigenous Diversity in Early Twentieth-Century Korea Sang-ho Ro 6. “Lives without Mosquitoes and Flies”: Eradication Campaigns in Postwar Japan Kerry Smith Part Three: The Institutionalization of Entomology in Twentieth-Century China 7. Circumscribing China with Insects: A Manual of the Dragonflies of China and the Indigenization of Academic Entomology in the Republican Period Daniel Burton-Rose 8. The Dialectics of Species: Chen Shixiang, Insect Taxonomy, and the “Species Problem” in Socialist China Lijing Jiang Glossary of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Terms Bibliography Contributors Index
£33.98
University of California Press Field Guide to the Common Bees of California
Book SynopsisProvides an overview of native and honey bee biology and offers tools for identifying the most common bees of California and the Western United States. This title highlights bees' ties to our own lives, the food we eat, and the habitat we provide, and suggests ways to support bees in our own backyards.Trade Review"The book will be appreciated by everyone interested in gardening and those who want to know more about biodiversity. Highly recommended." -- J. M. Gonzalez Choice "Whether you are interested in nature or are an avid Central Coast gardener and recognize the fact that bees are important to the success you have growing fruits, vegetables and flowers, this a guide you'll want to own." -- Robert Walch The Salinas Californian "If you are interested in bees or rely on them to make your garden thrive, this illustrated natural history guidebook is a must-read." -- Bob Walch CoastViews Magazine
£39.10
University of California Press Field Guide to the Common Bees of California
Book SynopsisProvides an overview of native and honey bee biology and offers tools for identifying the most common bees of California and the Western United States. This title highlights bees' ties to our own lives, the food we eat, and the habitat we provide, and suggests ways to support bees in our own backyards.Trade Review"The book will be appreciated by everyone interested in gardening and those who want to know more about biodiversity. Highly recommended." -- J. M. Gonzalez Choice "Whether you are interested in nature or are an avid Central Coast gardener and recognize the fact that bees are important to the success you have growing fruits, vegetables and flowers, this a guide you'll want to own." -- Robert Walch The Salinas Californian "If you are interested in bees or rely on them to make your garden thrive, this illustrated natural history guidebook is a must-read." -- Bob Walch CoastViews MagazineTable of ContentsPreface AN INTRODUCTION TO BEES What Are Bees? Importance of Bees Bee Diversity Bee Morphology Bee Life Cycles Evolution of Social Behavior: Social versus Solitary Bees Parasites and Robbers Other Parasites and Predators Nesting Pollination Basics Ecosystem Services and Bees Conservation of Bees and Other Pollinators Studying Bees Identifying Bees BEE FAMILY AND GENUS ACCOUNTS Plasterer or Polyester Bees (Family Colletidae) Yellow-faced Bees or Masked Bees (Genus Hylaeus) Polyester Bees or Digger Bees (Genus Colletes) Sweat Bees (Family Halictidae) Sweat Bees (Genus Halictus) Green Sweat Bees (Genus Agapostemon) Sweat Bees (Genus Lasioglossum) Sweat Bees (Genus Dufourea) Cuckoo Bees (Genus Sphecodes) Mining Bees (Family Andrenidae) Digger Bees or Miner Bees (Genus Andrena) Panurgine Bees (Genus Panurginus) Miner Bees (Genus Perdita) Leaf-cutter Bees or Mason Bees (Family Megachilidae) Resin Bees or Mason Bees (Genus Dianthidium) Carder Bees (Genus Anthidium) 93 Large Leaf-cutter Bees (Genus Megachile) Small Leaf-cutter Bees or Mason Bees (Genus Osmia) Leaf-cutter Bees (Genus Ashmeadiella) Mason Bees (Genus Hoplitis) Mason Bees (Genus Heriades) Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble,and Honey Bees (Family Apidae) Honey Bees (Genus Apis) Squash Bees (Genus Peponapis) Habropoda Bees (Genus Habropoda) Cuckoo Bees (Genus Nomada) Mining Bees (Genus Anthophora) Bumble Bees (Genus Bombus) Long-horned Bees or Sunflower Bees (Genus Diadasia) Long-horned Bees (Genus Melissodes) Large Carpenter Bees (Genus Xylocopa) Small Carpenter Bees (Genus Ceratina) Long-horned Bees (Genus Eucera) Long-horned Bees (Genus Tetraloniella) Cuckoo Bees (Genus Triepeolus) Appendix 1: Bee Families and Genera Found in California Appendix 2: Key to Females of Genera Included in This Book Glossary Resources Index
£17.09
University of California Press How Not to Be Eaten
Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPrologue Acknowledgments 1. Insects in the Web of Life 2. The Eaters of Insects 3. Fleeing and Staying under Cover 4. Hiding in Plain Sight 5. Bird Dropping Mimicry and Other Disguises 6. Flash Colors and Eyespots 7. Safety in Numbers 8. Defensive Weapons and Warning Signals 9. The Predators’ Countermeasures 10. Protection by Deception Epilogue Selected References Index
£18.90
Harvard University Press The Birders Bug Book
Book SynopsisA veteran entomologist and accomplished birdwatcher presents this introduction to the intricate interplay of insects and birds, with a beguiling blend of anecdote, ornithology, and entomology. Profusely illustrated with drawings and color photographs, this book offers a cornucopia of facts about the life history and behavior of insects and birds.Trade ReviewTwo of the basic tenets of modern evolutionary biology are that, within an ecosystem, each species fulfills a critical role and that when a species is perturbed or an addition is made to an ecosystem, the ecological ramifications will often be noticed rippling throughout the entire community...Exploring and expanding on these nested relationships are two of the things that Gilbert Waldbauer does so well in his engaging natural history...Waldbauer takes some of the least appreciated species in most ecosystems--insects--and eloquently discusses many of the roles they play...His book is accessible to anyone interested in natural history...What Waldbauer does best is transmit his respect and admiration--perhaps awe is not too strong a word--for the insects he has spent his life studying. -- Michael Zimmerman * Philadelphia Inquirer *Some insects mimic bird droppings to protect themselves from attack. Certain songbirds rub acid-filled ants over their feathers to deter external parasites. Such examples of the bird/bug relationship sprinkle Waldbauer's text as he describes the ways that each group adjusts and evolves through mutual exploitation. The final third of the book addresses the bugs that eat the birders and how humans combat such assaults. * Science News *The Birder's Bug Book provides a lot of information about bugs and about birds...The book has a small section of high-quality color plates, a good bibliography, and many fine black-and-white illustrations...[Waldbauer] presents a lot of information organized in a successful format that should appeal to birders of many persuasions. -- David Benson * Wisconsin Bluebird *This book is an interesting introduction to the many fascinating relationships between birds and insects. As past eons have come and gone, birds and insects have become increasingly enmeshed in a complex web of interrelationships: birds eating insects, bloodsucking insects feeding on birds, parasitic insects infesting birds, ad birds struggling to rid themselves of the parasites. In this book, the author describes these and many other interactions between birds an insects. * Entomological News *[The Birder's Bug Book] aims to establish that birds are best understood in the light of their ecological contact and consequent association with plants, insects and other organisms...The whole book is well written and a fascinating read with charming illustrations. The last chapter especially could well be recommended as compulsory reading in all educational establishments. -- K. G. V. Smith * Entomologist's Monthly *This unique title focuses on the relationships and impact among birds, 'bugs,' and people. Drawing on a rich array of scientific resources, including his own career, and on anecdotes, Waldbauer gives an entertaining summary of these complex interactions, which dynamically affect human and ecological health...Some chapters portray 'Bugs That Birds Eat,' 'Bugs That Eat Birds,' 'Bugs That Eat People,' etc.; others offer lively essays on flying insects, a brief guide to insects, and an excellent discourse, 'Disappearing Diversity' which should be required reading for anyone interested in extinction, rain forests, or biodiversity. Highly recommended. -- Henry T. Arminstead * Library Journal *[Waldbauer] introduces readers to the complex interplay of birds and insects, striving to be scientifically accurate yet using a variety of delightful anecdotes to make his points...The book is a must-read for anyone interested in natural history. -- George Cohen * Booklist *Waldbauer gives a lucid, engaging account of mutual exploitation in a complex ecosystem while evincing a sneaking admiration for bugs. He describes birds whose 'profession' is to eat insects; 'choosy' blood-sucking insects that feed on only certain birds; parasites living on birds; and the birds' efforts to get rid of them. Also detailed are species of ants and spiders that eat nestlings. Birds attack parasitic insects by anting (rubbing ants over their bodies), dust-bathing and preening; some species even bring aromatic leaves to their nest. Others enlist the support of bees and wasps by building their nests near those insects' habitats for protection against predators...This informative work is not just for birders; any student of natural history will find it illuminating. * Publishers Weekly *Birds and insects are involved in a complex web of relationships, and here veteran entomologist Waldbauer describes these relationships and interactions, blending ornithology, entomology and folktales in a lively style which will appeal to scientist and general readers alike. Any interested in natural history will find it appealing and involving. * Bookwatch *One of our 'favorite book-writing naturalists.' * Discover *Anyone interested in insects and birds will enjoy this book and learn a great deal from it. * Bird Watcher's Digest *Highly readable. Waldbauer is the ideal author for this sort of book: An accomplished entomologist, a fine writer, and a fanatical birder. -- Scott K. Robinson * Illinois Natural History Survey *In this well-written book, Waldbauer...melds his vocational interest in insects with his avocational interest in birds...Besides the highly readable prose, there are dozens of detailed three-toned drawings and 16 pages of color plates...This book can be enjoyed by high school students and adult laypersons, as well as professional and amateur naturalists. -- H. N. Cunningham * Choice *It would never have occurred to me to look at a book about bugs, whether they are associated with birds or not, but I've got to tell you, this book is fascinating. -- Pete Dunne, New Jersey Audubon SocietyThis fascinating account of the long interrelationship between insects and birds and the short destructive intervention of man makes compelling reading. * Entomologist's Monthly Magazine *The Birder’s Bug Book is an unusual yet highly engaging thinkpiece devoted to selected topics in natural history… Few readers are likely to come away from [Waldbauer’s] book without acquiring significant new facts and perspectives. Natural history books designed for non-professionals often repeat a familiar nucleus of established lore, while many scientific books are so narrowly focused as to be inaccessible to non-expert readers. The Birder’s Bug Book demonstrates that there is still much to be learned from the traditional naturalist’s approach and that there is still a place for wide-ranging, articulately written, and thoughtful nature writing. -- Rich Cech * Birding *
£16.16
Harvard University Press The Earwigs Tail
Book SynopsisIn the Middle Ages, enormously popular bestiaries presented people with descriptions of rare and unusual animals, typically paired with a moral or religious lesson. Entomologist May Berenbaum and illustrator Jay Hosler draw on the powerful cultural symbols of these antiquated books to create a beautiful and witty bestiary of the insect world.Trade ReviewThroughout The Earwig's Tail, Berenbaum squashes urban myths about bugs, explaining along the way why you should not wear your dog's flea and tick collar even if you have fleas, as she once did. For 20 years she has taught an entomology course called "Insects and people," and this book provides a wry look at their interactions. It is scientifically accurate, studded with Latin names and journal references, and consistently funny. -- Jonathan Beard * New Scientist *[Berenbaum's] chatty and highly readable new book, The Earwig's Tail: A Modern Bestiary of Multi-legged Legends, unites her scholarship with her interest in the fantasies insects inspire in humans. It's a modern equivalent of the bestiaries that excited medieval readers with accounts of the world's animals, among which the authors frequently included unicorns and mermaids. Berenbaum also includes many an unfounded myth but crisply refutes delusions with scientific truth. -- Robert Fulford * National Post *The Earwig's Tail is a compelling exploration of arthropod-related urban legends. Berenbaum explores the stories' origins--occasionally scientific but more often not--from the etymological issues of how the earwigs got their name through to the plausibility of cockroaches growing inside one's tongue. It is a fascinating collection of short, sharp chapters, each starting with a common myth that Berenbaum investigates through the popular media and more reputable scientific research. She looks for the origin of the legends, and assesses the scientific credibility behind the claims. Written in an entertaining and engaging style, this is a light-hearted and enjoyable critique of some of the public perceptions and misconceptions surrounding our six-legged friends...Do drunk ants really always fall down on their left sides? Is it true that the cockroach would be the only organism to survive a nuclear holocaust? Can a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil really cause a tornado in Texas? If you have ever wondered about any of these issues, or received a warning about an insect and questioned its veracity, Berenbaum has the answers. She leaves the reader with some interesting questions, some entertaining anecdotes, and some possibilities that even an entomologist might not want to consider. A must-read for the entomologist, the entomophobic and anyone who has ever wondered whether mutant insects with six-foot wingspans could take over the Earth. -- Michelle Harvey * Times Higher Education *[It] debunks stories about spiders laying their eggs in people's mouths or the survival of the human race being dependent on the survival of bees...In its way this book is a perfect example of its kind: Berenbaum has an easy, witty style, but writing for fellow scientists keeps her from being annoyingly facetious. -- Owen Richardson * The Age *Myth and misinformation about insects abound, and entomologist May Berenbaum is here to set us straight. In The Earwig's Tail she reveals that a bumblebee's flight doesn't defy physics, cockroaches aren't immune to radiation, and earwigs, despite their name, don't inhabit human ears. Fair enough--but Berenbaum doesn't simply kill untruths dead like a can of Raid. She uses these topics as jumping-off points for enlightening discussions about the insect world, which is so vast and incredible that it requires no exaggeration. * Utne Reader *Clever and humorous, this is a book for the layperson that even scientists will enjoy reading. -- J. M. Gonzalez * Choice *Table of ContentsThe Beasts * The Aerodynamically Unsound Bumble Bee * The Brain-Boring Earwig * The California Tongue Cockroach * The Domesticated Crab Louse * The Extinction-Prevention Bee * The Filter-Lens Fly * The Genetically Modified Frankenbug * The Headless Cockroach * The Iraqi Camel Spider * The Jumping Face Bug * The Kissing Bug * The "Locust" * The Mate-Eating Mantis * The Nuclear Cockroach * The Olympian Flea * The Prognosticating Woollyworm * The Queen Bee * The Right-Handed Ant * The Sex-Enhancing Spanishfly * The Toilet Spider * The Unslakable Mosquito * The Venomous Daddylonglegs * The Wing-Flapping Chaos Butterfly * The X-ray Induced Giant Insect * The Yogurt Beetle * The Zapper Bug
£32.36
Harvard University Press The Fire Ants
Book SynopsisIn The Fire Ants, Walter Tschinkel provides not just an encyclopedic overview of Solenopsis invicta but a lively account of how research is done, how science establishes facts, and the pleasures and problems of a scientific career. The reader learns much about ants, the practice of science, and humans' role in the fire ant's North American success.Trade ReviewThis is a wonderful book, comprehensive in its coverage of fire ant social biology, extraordinarily lucid in its description of complex topics, and beautifully synthetic in tying together the many disparate threads of evidence relevant to the discussion of each topic. The prose is concise and compact, but the wit and humor of the author penetrate even the most tedious technical parts to lighten up the text and make it a pleasure to read. The book is laced with insightful and humorous interludes that detail the tools and personalities involved in fire ant research, and covers the major topics likely to be of interest to evolutionary biologists and ecologists who study social animals, especially social insects. The Fire Ants is certain to be widely read. -- Kenneth Ross, Professor of Entomology, University of GeorgiaThis book is without parallel as a thorough description of the biology of an important social insect. There are books on particular problems of social insect biology, and of course the landmark volume by Hölldobler and Wilson treats all ant biology. The Fire Ants stands out for its focus on a single species, covering the entire range of an enormous literature. It will therefore be of interest to specialists and to a more general audience who wish to learn about what is important in the ant world. -- Joan Herbers, Dean of Biological Sciences, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State UniversityI have been reading bits and pieces of the book, dipping in here and there like a chimpanzee with a twig, fishing for ants, and each time I have come up with something tasty and nutritious...My favorite ["Interlude"], an economical two-page essay called "The Porter Wedge Micrometer: Mental Health for Myrmecologists," ought to be required reading for any scientist who wants to write for the public...This brief essay is entertaining and significant, a real glimpse of what science is and how it is done by human beings, rational and un-, grappling with technique, nature and the gathering of information. This is what the public needs to know about science, not just the results presented in the driest form possible. -- James Gorman * New York Times *This book is a masterly and detailed account of some of nature's greatest opportunists, the fire ants. It deals with their phylogeny, biogeography, social organization, parasites, and foraging behavior, together with their impacts on natural ecosystems and agriculture. Walter Tschinkel's holistic approach embraces topics at the molecular level and relates them to the colony and its organization. Tschinkel has researched these ants for thirty-five years at Florida State University, Tallahassee. He and several generations of his postgraduate students have been one of the major driving forces in fire-ant studies. This body of work required the mastery of finely tuned laboratory techniques in analytical chemistry, a detailed understanding of the natural history of the ants, extended periods of uncomfortable fieldwork and getting badly stung...Tschinkel's love of and fascination with the ants shines through the often highly technical aspects of The Fire Ants. He writes with great clarity and his book should appeal to the general reader, as much as the specialist. It is well illustrated with graphs, tables, and excellent photographs. -- Christopher O'Toole * Times Literary Supplement *
£26.06
Harvard University Press Insects through the Seasons
Book SynopsisThe unparalleled success of insects is the story told in this highly entertaining book. How do these often tiny but indefatigable creatures do it? Gilbert Waldbauer pursues this question from hot springs and Himalayan slopes to roadsides and forests, scrutinizing insect life in its many manifestations.Trade Review[Waldbauer's] style is lively and light, and he manages to explain scientific evidence behind the ideas he presents without lapsing into jargon. His passages describing insect life can be poetic...The book delivers a sophisticated view of ecology, evolution and animal behavior...Sure, Insects through the Seasons has more sex and violence than prime-time TV, but this is the real birds and the bees, and Waldbauer tells it like it is. -- Faye Flam * Philadelphia Inquirer *Insects through the Seasons...is a joyous romp through amazing-but-true natural history stories of what makes insects tick...Waldbauer's clear prose is full of fascinating detail, and it is a pleasure to read. His enthusiasm for his subject comes through loud and clear, a vital ingredient for interesting readers in what he has to say...Even for the professional entomologist, there is plenty that may well be new. There are vignettes here to delight any reader, including a great deal from Waldbauer's research naturally. -- Francis Gilbert * New Scientist *Insects through the Seasons is chock-a-block with insect facts, anecdotes and good, old-fashioned natural history...There are chapters on courtship, caring for offspring and finding food, which Waldbauer manages to keep fresh by resisting the use of well-trodden examples. There are also more unusual chapters on, for example, insects' use of silk and the problems faced (and solved) by parasitic insects. Throughout, Waldbauer places his insects in the wider context of the natural world as a whole...[An] inspirational book. -- Stuart Blackman * BBC Wildlife *Mr. Waldbauer...knows his bugs and is a masterful storyteller as well. His protagonist is the cecropia moth, common nocturnal insect of the Midwest. He follows it through its life cycle, digressing frequently...The many stories of the `most successful animals on earth' are fascinating...Mr. Waldbauer's entertaining tales of insect behavior gracefully illustrate contemporary evolutionary biology theory...Without insects or with a drastic decrease in their activity, the world as we know it would cease. Mr. Waldbauer's story of the gentle cecropia moth goes far toward explaining why. * Washington Times *A natural-history treasury, this elegantly illustrated volume traces the life cycles of numerous insect species by describing their methods of courtship, mating, raising young, self-defense, recognizing and eating food, and surviving seasonal changes. * Booklist *[A] thoroughly gratifying survey of that most successful animal group...Starting with the optimistic swarm of spring, Waldbauer paints the landscape of each season, filling it with every manner of creature (though insects take center stage) and describing their evolutionary talents...He never has to stretch for the fantastic or sensational example, for the insect world is one long, strange parade of curiosities: critters with ears on their legs, teeth on their genitals, the smell of carbona on their breath. Waldbauer gives the scoop on the tricks of a dead leaf butterfly, cracks the code of the cricket's chirp, tends bar for a boozing moth, shares the satin bowerbird's obsession with the color blue. In the process, he puts the entire ecological picture in context...Waldbauer's wisdom is served up like a tantalizing tray of hors d'oeuvres, none of which will likely be declined. * Kirkus Reviews *Gilbert Waldbauer is one of those few lucky people paid to pursue their hobby. Reading Insects Through the Seasons, one discovers why he finds entomology endlessly fascinating...And as if his words, a blend of science and sentiment, were not enough to bring the subject to life, a cecropia moth flies across the bottom corner of the book as one flicks the pages. Here readers will discover strange stories and fantastic facts about the lives of insects and the many ways in which millions of years of evolution have equipped these organisms, arguably the most successful on our planet. -- George C. McGavin * Nature *These excellent books [Gilbert Waldbauer's Insects through the Seasons and Bernd Heinrich's Thermal Warriors] are best read fully and carefully, and in the order just listed. Each summarizes a wealth of intriguing information about a group often and justifiably characterized as the most successful of living creatures. Waldbauer, in the more general of the two books, has hit on the clever scheme of following insect life through the changing demands of seasonal changes, thus giving structure to a wealth of information. Heinrich, by contrast, provides a dazzling account of a particular and little-known aspect of insect life--thermoregulation. -- Russell Stevens, Phi Beta Kappa * Key Reporter *Tracing an animal's life through the seasons is a common strategy for the single-species monograph, but it is a mere marker for this book. Waldbauer uses the yearly cycle of the cecropia moth as a base to which he periodically returns while presenting an impressive array of the tactics the moth's fellow insects and arthropod relatives use to live and thrive. Those methods...are phenomenally various and gratifyingly intriguing...A real natural history treasury, this is an elegant volume, too, thanks to the many excellent line drawings that entertainingly include a flip-book of a cecropia in flight on the lower right-hand-page corners. -- Ray Olson * Booklist *A lively, well-written introduction to an endlessly fascinating side of natural history. * Publishers Weekly *
£24.26
Harvard University Press Bee Time Lessons from the Hive
Book SynopsisBeing among bees is a full-body experience, Mark Winston writes. Bee Time presents his reflections on three decades spent studying these remarkable creatures, and on the lessons they can teach about how humans might better interact with one another and the natural world, from the boardroom to urban design to agricultural ecosystems.Trade ReviewMark Winston has spent 30 years studying and working with bees. His book is a passionate celebration of bees, apiaries and honey, as well as a calmly reasoned critique of industrialized farming and a plea to halt the dramatic decline in bee numbers… A wonderfully rich insight into the imperiled world of the bee. -- P. D. Smith * The Guardian *In this personal and scientific journey into the history we share with bees, [Winston] ranges over neonicotinoid pesticides and colony collapse, the control of African ‘killer’ bees and more. The charismatic social insects emerge as both icons of societal cohesion and symbols of nature’s paradoxically mingled power and fragility. -- Barbara Kiser * Nature *[Winston] writes lovingly of the rhythms and quiddities of the apiary… In a highly personal style, Winston steps between reportage, scientific exactitude and a deep, poetically expressed love of bees, beekeeping and the cultural forms that bees inspire. People and bees have been working together for millennia—synergy that Winston, sensitized by his work as a communications specialist, clearly feels brings out the best and the worst in humanity. His take on the situation makes Bee Time an insightful delight. -- Adrian Barnett * New Scientist *Winston wants to acquaint his readers with the fascinating complexity of the bee world, and he also wants to alert readers to the fact that the bee world is drastically endangered. He brings to this hybrid task a very smooth ability to simplify the complex bee-literature he’s obviously mastered, providing engaging glimpses into the world of the hive—and usually presenting them in parallel context of the human world… Considering the enormous ripple-effects that would happen in the wake of the disappearance of these key pollinators, Winston’s wake-up call takes on an urgency that’s belied by its friendly, approachable tone. That clarion call makes Bee Time an important book, even if you by chance suffer from a touch of apiphobia. -- Steve Donoghue * Open Letters Monthly *[Winston] presents a stark picture of how much we expect from, and rely on, bees. -- Kristin Treen * Literary Review *Thoughtful and eloquent… Winston is an inspired cross-pollinator, who uses the ‘full-body experience’ of being with bees to draw lessons for human hives. -- Sarah Murdoch * Toronto Star *Like the beekeeper he is, paying careful attention to what’s going on in his colonies, Winston has done a fine job with this book. Bee Time is beautifully written and rich in the detail, evoking emotions without being overly maudlin. -- Jeff Lee * Vancouver Sun *[Winston’s] lyricism inspires awe of these necessary insects. -- Temma Ehrenfeld * Weekly Standard *A recap of what’s been going on in beekeeping over the past 10 years or so… Winston has left no hive unturned in this work, documenting all the good, and the bad that has occurred… There are indeed lessons to learn from a bee hive. This work will share some of them with you. -- Kim Flottum * Bee Culture *Winston combines beekeeping work/research, philosophical musings, and his personal memories in this enjoyable book. -- J. M. Gonzalez * Choice *Bee Time is a unique book: in turn a touching memoir, a warm paean to the honey bees that have fueled Winston’s impressive scientific career, and an insightful analysis of some of the serious environmental problems facing us today. -- Gene E. Robinson, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignNo other book celebrates the long relationship between humans and honeybees as powerfully, thoughtfully, and enchantingly as this one. Written in lyrical prose, Bee Time is a delightful and inspiring read. -- Thomas D. Seeley, author of Honeybee Democracy
£17.95
Princeton University Press Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East
Book SynopsisAn illustrated guide to 336 dragonfly and damselfly species of eastern North America - from the rivers of Manitoba to the Florida cypress swamps. It features hundreds of color photos that depict various species found in the region, detailed line drawings to help in-hand identification, and a color distribution map for various species.Trade Review"I truly believe that if there is such a thing as the 'must-have' book, Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East is IT... It contains all 336 species of Odonata that have been found in eastern North America. Not just dragons or just damsels, [but] all Odonata. That means ONE book for everything. It has excellent full-color photographs that are large enough to see many of coloration and patterns that are important... The species accounts are well-done with reference to similar species when appropriate. The natural history summaries for genera are very good, and valuable information for any ode enthusiast."--Mark O'Brien, Michigan Odonotes blog "This is a beautiful book, a joy to hold and to look at. Although it is a paperback, it is printed on sturdy glossy paper that will hold up well in the field... [I] recommend it as an essential field guide to the dragonflies."--Devorah Bennu, GrrlScientist blog "This is an excellent landmark field guide that belongs in every naturalist's collection."--Donna Schulman, 10,000 Birds "[A] terrific volume that will be very popular among odonate enthusiasts in the East."--Choice "[T]hese volumes are obviously authoritative, comprehensive and clearly designed with the needs of the naturalist in mind. The photographs are excellent and ... the text makes up for the unavoidable shortcomings of a photo-guide by including full descriptions of each species. Altogether, these two volumes constitute a complete, highly informative and beautifully illustrated guide to the Odonata of North America."--Guy Padfield, UKbutterfliesTable of Contents*FrontMatter, pg. 1*Contents, pg. 5*Preface, pg. 7*Introduction, pg. 9*Natural History of Odonates, pg. 11*Odonate Anatomy, pg. 27*Odonate Colors, pg. 32*Odonate Names, pg. 32*Finding Odonates, pg. 33*Identifying Odonates, pg. 34*Odonate Photography, pg. 36*Odonate Collecting and Collections, pg. 37*Odonate Threats and Conservation, pg. 40*Odonate Research, pg. 42*Odonates in the East, pg. 43*Explanation of Species Accounts, pg. 43*Broad-winged Damsel Family, pg. 49*Spreadwing Family, pg. 59*Pond Damsel Family, pg. 81*Petaltail Family, pg. 165*Darner Family, pg. 167*Clubtail Family, pg. 207*Spiketail Family, pg. 316*Cruiser Family, pg. 325*Emerald Family, pg. 336*Skimmer Family, pg. 399*Species Added to the Western Fauna in 2009 and 2010, pg. 519*Appendix: Dragonfly Publications and Resources, pg. 521*Glossary, pg. 523*Index, pg. 527
£23.75
Princeton University Press Monarchs and Milkweed
Book SynopsisTrade Review"A lively, highly informative introduction to significant research in ecology that highlights the importance of conserving our natural habitats."--Kirkus "This comprehensive and colorful illustrated study of monarch biology and behavior ... offers another reason to admire the versatile insect: its long and successful symbiotic relationship with the otherwise toxic milkweed plant... Agrawal's book will appeal not only to butterfly enthusiasts but also to the environmentally aware and all readers who appreciate solidly written and accessible popular science."--Booklist "Epic is the only word to describe the annual journey of monarch butterflies... Agrawal's splendid book is no less epic, taking us from heart toxins and sodium pumps to climate change and illegal logging. This is important science about an iconic and sadly declining insect, made readable by enthusiastic, personal prose."--Richard Jones, BBC Wildlife Magazine "[Anurag Agrawal's] book is a minutely detailed exploration of just about everything about [monarchs]: sex lives, dining habits, internal flight guidance and, in particular, their coevolving-but-competitive relationship with milkweed."--Nancy Szokan, Washington Post "Fantastic, readable, scientifically rich, detailed... Monarchs and Milkweed is to date the coolest nature or science book I've seen so far this year."--Greg Laden's BlogTable of ContentsList of Illustrations vii 1 Welcome to the Monarchy 1 2 The Arms Race 22 3 The Chemistry of Medicine and Poison 43 4 Waiting, Mating, and Migrating 63 5 Hatching and Defending 90 6 Saving Up to Raise a Family 119 7 The Milkweed Village 148 8 The Autumn Migration 178 9 Long Live the Monarchy! 210 Acknowledgments 243 Notes 249 Image Credits 271 Index 275
£26.60
Princeton University Press Butterfly Gardening
Book SynopsisAn indispensable and lavishly illustrated guide to creating a garden that attracts and sustains butterfliesButterfly gardening creates habitats that support butterflies, connecting us with some of the most beautiful creatures in the natural world and bringing new levels of excitement and joy to gardening. In this engaging and accessible guide,Trade Review"The North American Butterfly Association offers a lavish guide to remedying their plight in Butterfly Gardening, by Jane Hurwitz. It’s helpfully organized by region, and so straightforward and reasonable that there should soon be many more nectar banquets for these important pollinators."---Dominique Brown, New York Times Book Review"Butterfly Gardening by Jane Hurwitz is another beautiful gardening book that . . . will get beginners started and serve as an inspiration for experienced lepidopterists."---Tina Winstead, Daily Star"If you weren’t already inclined to devote some gardening efforts to butterflies, the more than 200 stunning color photos of eggs, caterpillars, and butterflies-and the lovely gardens that support them-that fill advocate Jane Hurwitz’s book would nudge you in that direction."---Andrea F. Siegel, Washington Gardener"Gorgeous photographs of butterflies and plants dress up the text and graphs, making it a pleasure to read."---Jean Greenlaw, Denton Record-Chronicle
£22.50
Princeton University Press A Swift Guide to Butterflies of North America
Book Synopsis"Approved by the North American Butterfly Association"--Cover.Trade Review"[A Swift Guide to Butterflies of North America] is a comprehensive and authoritative field guide illustrated with 3,500 photographs." * London Free Press *"This is a remarkable field guide with nearly 3,600 photographs, including every species known to occur within the 50 states." * Choice *"If you are interested in learning more about butterflies, this is the book for you! . . . A Swift Guide to Butterflies provides everything that interested butterfly hunters and conservationists need to get started in butterfly collecting or butterfly watching. . . . A great identification book for both the newbie and the experienced butterfly enthusiast."---Tom Berg, The Blade"As good a photo-guide as it is possible to get. Every square millimetre of every page is crammed full of precisely targeted information, expressly designed to make sure you can name that butterfly. . . . Even if you already have one of the other guides . . . it is worth adding this volume to your library as an additional and complementary resource."---Guy Padfield, Dispar"Anyone with a strong interest in butterflies should get this book." * Wildlife Activist *"A must-have for all butterfly lovers in the United States." * Conservation Biology *Table of ContentsIntroduction 7 About This Book 7 Butterfly Identification 7 Butterfly Biology 8 Names 9 Interacting with Butterflies 9 "Releasing" Butterflies 10 Conservation 11 North American Butterfly Association 11 Wing Areas and Body Parts 12 About the Species Accounts 13 Abbreviations, Symbols and Glossary 14 About the Maps 15 Swallowtails Papilionidae 16 Parnassians Parnassiinae 16 True Swallowtails Papilioninae 18 Whites and Yellows Pieridae 36 Whites Pierinae 36 Marbles and Orangetips 46 Yellows Coliadinae 52 Sulphurs 52 Yellows 68 Gossamerwings Lycaenidae 74 Coppers Lycaeninae 74 Harvester Miletinae 83 Hairstreaks Theclinae 84 Blues Polyommatinae 122 Metalmarks Riodinidae 146 Brushfoots Nymphalidae 158 Heliconians and Fritillaries Heliconiinae 158 Heliconians 158 Greater Fritillaries 162 Lesser Fritillaries 182 True Brushfoots Nymphalinae 190 Patches, Checkerspots and Crescents 190 Anglewings, Ladies and Relatives 220 Admirals and Relatives Limenitidinae et al. 232 Leafwings Charaxinae 246 Emperors Apaturinae 250 Snouts Libytheinae 253 Satyrs Satyrinae 254 Ticlears, Clearwings Ithomiinae 277 Mimic-Queen and Monarchs Danainae 277 Skippers Hesperiidae 280 Firetips Pyrrhopyginae 280 Spreadwing Skippers Pyrginae 280 Skipperlings Heteropterinae 332 Grass-Skippers Hesperiinae 334 Giant-Skippers Megathyminae 394 Hawaii 400 Conclusion Photo Credits 402 Selected Bibliography 403 Selected Websites 403 Caterpillar Foodplant Index 404 Butterfly Species Index 408 Visual Index 418
£25.20
Princeton University Press Spiders of the World
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Honorable Mention for the Dartmouth Medal, Reference and User Services Association of the American Library Association""From the first page to the last this book is a tour de force. I recommend it highly."---David Gascoigne, TravelsWithBirds.com"[A]n intriguing and illustrative introduction to . . . the spider world."---Jim Williams, Star Tribune"Highly recommended." * Choice *
£23.75
Cornell University Press The Social Biology of Wasps
Book SynopsisIn this edited collection, 17 internationally known authorities bring together the results of recent research on the natural history, ecology, behavior, morphology, and genetics of wasps as they pertain to the evolution of social behavior.Trade ReviewAnyone with even a casual interest in social insects should read it. * Nature *The Social Biology of Wasps provides a thorough and up-to-date account. It is fertile ground for graduate students seeking thesis topics and a great resource for anyone attuned to the tension between conflict and cooperation that makes social animals so interesting. * Science *
£97.20
MB - Cornell University Press Insect Development and Evolution
Book SynopsisLife scientists are increasingly drawn to the study of comparative evolutionary biology. Insect Development and Evolution is the first synthesis of knowledge of insect development within an evolutionary framework and the first to survey the genetic...Trade ReviewA fine reference that focuses on recent discoveries regarding Drosophila and Manduca development. Written for students and scientists working in the field of insect structure, evolution, paleontology, pathology, function, behavior, and systematics, as well as those investigating other organisms. This study can be used as a one or two semester course in insect development. Causal analysis is thoroughly covered in the text, which could lead to an experimental component for students and researchers. * Northeastern Naturalist *This book provides a wealth of information on insect development with chapters on empryogenesis, evolution of larval forms, wing formation and pattern differentiation in butterflies, polymorphism in eusocial insects.... The final chapter is devoted to ontogeny and hexapod evolution and provides an excellent summary account of the evolution of the various orders of insects that we know today. This is a worthy successor to The Biology of Drosophila, my treasured bible for many years. -- John Badmin * British Journal of Entomology and Natural History *We wholeheartedly congratulate Bruce Heming for this excellent book, by far the best comprehensive survey of insect development biology available to date. -- Alessandro Minelli * Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research *Heming (Univ. of Alberta) has prepared an exceptional book using a comparative phylogenetic approach that synthesizes classical works of ontogney and development with modern molecular studies using Drosophila and Manduca as models.... For research scientists in entomology and developmental biology it will also serve as an excellent reference, the utility of which is enhanced by an extensive reference list and index. Highly recommended. * Choice *Through their application to model organisms, development genetics and molecular biology have fueled an explosive growth in our understanding of insect ontogeny. Heming draws on these recent findings and a synthesis of earlier descriptive, comparative, and experimental studies to produce a detailed introduction to insect development within an evolutionary framework. * Science *
£110.70
Cornell University Press The Monarch Butterfly Biology and Conservation
Book SynopsisThe knowledge of citizen scientists, biologists, and naturalists informs this book's coverage of every aspect of the monarch butterfly's life cycle (breeding, migration, and overwintering) from the perspective of every established monarch population...Trade ReviewThis book is aimed largely at an American audience and it will be interesting to learn how popular it has been with the general public. Having a national buttefly is wonderful way of bringing scientists and the public together to work for a common cause. Perhaps we might benefit from having a national butterfly in the U.K. -- John Stewart * British Journal of Entomology and Natural History *
£37.05
Cornell University Press Field Guide to Grasshoppers Katydids and Crickets
Book SynopsisIn much of North America, crickets and katydids provide the soundtrack to summer nights, and grasshoppers frequent the fields and roadsides of midsummer days. Although insects from this group have long been the bane of those who make their living from...Trade ReviewOften heard, seldom seen, katydids and crickets and their calls epitomize summertime. Also familiar are grasshoppers, flashing their often colorful hind wings in sudden flight. Yet most lay people know little about these abundant insects or how to identify them. Most existing publications are regional or technical; authored by Capinera and Thomas J. Walker, two University of Florida entomologists, and Ralph D. Scott, a Montana-based biologist and scientific illustrator, this first field guide to U.S. and Canadian orthoptera introduces 206 of the most common species (more than a third of the total), each with an excellent color painting by Scott. It explains classification, morphology (illustrated), biology, sound production, and collection and preservation, and presents pictorial keys to families and subfamilies. Species accounts include common name, scientific name, distribution, map, description, ecology, and similar species comparisons. By connecting us to the natural world, field guides play a crucial role in the environmental movement. This splendid guide fills a gap in that effort and is recommended to amateurs and professionals alike. (Starred Review) * Library Journal *To study any living creature usefully, one must be able to identify it. Moreover, to the amateur naturalist, the ability to recognize and identify is an important part of the pleasure of observing the living world. John L. Capinera, Ralph D. Scott, and Thomas J. Walker have here produced a first-class example of a field guide, worthy of a place on the shelf of any North American naturalist. -- Andrew Harvey * Times Literary Supplement *
£25.19
Cornell University Press Bees
Book SynopsisNow back in print after more than two decades, this classic and still-accurate account of the behavior patterns and sensory capacities of the honeybee remains a book "written with a simplicity, directness, and charm...."—Yale ReviewTable of ContentsForeword by Donald R. GriffinPreface to the Revised EditionPreface to the First Edition1. The Color Sense of Bees2. The Chemical Sense of Bees3. The Language of BeesBibliographyIndex
£22.79
Johns Hopkins University Press Dragonfly Genera of the New World An Illustrated
Book SynopsisFor entomologists, limnologists, and ecologists, Dragonfly Genera of the New World is an indispensable resource for field identification and laboratory research.Trade ReviewThis is the most important Odonate book published in several years. -- T.W. Donnelly Argia 2006 A required reference for any serious student of faunistics and biogeography. -- Beth Orr Agrion 2006 A reference of the highest quality, this book reveals their striking beauty and complexity. It is a real monumental work on odonate taxonomy and identification, and indispensable for every one working with the Odonata of the Americas. A great book. -- Martin Schorr Odonatological Abstract Service 2007 As a superb reference work for 2 continents, written with much skill and profound command of the factual knowledge, the value of the book can be hardly exaggerated. Odonatological Abstracts 2007 The most significant contribution in decades. -- Robert Canning Florida Entomologist 2007 The authors have produced original keys that are richly illustrated... An outstanding volume that will be a long-standing contribution. -- John C. Abbott American Entomologist 2008 This is a landmark publication, and a must for all serious odonatologists and New World biodiversity specialists. -- Michael Samways Journal of Insect Conservation 2008Table of ContentsPrefaceList of Abbreviations1. Introduction2. Key to families3. Petaluridae4. Austropetaliidae5. Aeshnidae6. Gomphidae7. Neopetaliidae8. Cordulegastridae9. Libellulidae. Key to Subfamilies10. Macromiinae11. Corduliinae12. LibellulinaeLiterature CitedDistribution TablesList of FiguresIndex of Taxa
£81.18
Louisiana State University Press Debugging the Link between Social Theory and
Book SynopsisScientists have begun to challenge the traditional understanding of insect social organisation and to propose new models that combine ideas about social insect and human organizational structure with computer technologies. This interdisciplinary book makes an important contribution to the history - and future - of science and sociology.
£999.99
Rutgers University Press Why Do Bees Buzz Fascinating Answers to Questions
Book SynopsisWhy do bees buzz? How do they breathe? What is a 'waggle dance'? And just what happens if they run out of honey? This title reports on the mysterious 'colony collapse disorder' that has affected honey bee populations, as well as other topics, such as their complex, highly social lives, and how other species of bees are different from honey bees.Trade Review"Why Do Bees Buzz? not only has the potential to satisfy curiosity and entertain, but will also recruit enthusiastic new investigators to bee research. Even in a format intended for the general audience, Evans and Butler are able to convey the vigor of scientific research on bees in an intriguing manner." -- Susan Fahrbach * professor of Biology, Wake Forest University *"Why Do Bees Buzz? provides updated and well-presented material about many questions the general public may have regarding bees. Evans and Butler precisely discuss the function of bees and why pollination is a vital part of the ecosystem, something of which all people should be aware." -- Diana Sammataro * co-author of The BeekeeperÆs Handbook, Third Edition *"Drawing on a vast and burgeoning literature on bees, this ambitious book is packed with interesting facts, both old and new." -- Gene E. Robinson * Swanlund Chair of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign *"Why do Bees Buzz? takes readers on a riveting journey through the life and times of these marvelous insects, while highlighting their economic and ecological importance. A thorough, engaging, and informative read." -- Mark L. Winston * FRSC, Academic Director and Fellow, Centre for Dialogue, Simon Fraser University *"This book is an interesting and authoritative read for the beekeeper-experiences or not. Why Do Bees Buzz serves the bee people of the world well. It's alluring style calls the uninitiated readers to keeping bees of their own. It is hard to put down." * Illinois State Beekeepers Association Bulletin *"This is a wonderfully engaging book that covers everything from the anatomy and physiology of bees to studies on their social structure. It is wide enough in scope and interest to make it a welcome addition to any library." * National Science Teachers Association Bulletin *"Intended for general audiences, the book draws heavily on scientific literature, giving readers a feel for the ongoing nature of scientific research; this is a real strength. Recommended." * Choice *"Why Do Bees Buzz? is a wonderfully engaging book that covers everything from the anatomy and physiology of bees to studies on their social structure. Much of its appeal lies in its scope." * Science Teacher *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments One. Bee Basics Two. Bee Bodies Three. Bee Behavior Four. Bee Love Five. Bees in the Hive Six. Bees at Work Seven. Honey Eight. Bees on the Move Nine. Bee Stings and Other Defenses Ten. Dangers to Bees Eleven. Beekeeping Appendices References Index
£20.69
Ohio University Press Gardening for Moths A Regional Guide
Book SynopsisLoaded with stunning color photographs, this practical guidebook, which encompasses the identification of moths, their caterpillars, and their vital roles in midwestern ecosystems, shows gardeners how to use native plants to attract these essential, but often overlooked and misunderstood, insects.Trade ReviewWe love our beautiful butterflies, but we could love our moths, too, if we fully appreciated their essential role in nature. Moths and their caterpillars transfer more energy from plants to other animals than any other herbivores. A landscape without moths is a landscape without birds and many other animals. In Gardening for Moths, Jim McCormac and Chelsea Gottfried tell us how to bring these wonderful creatures into our landscapes and into our lives. -- Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native PlantsTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Moths—History, Folklore, Importance, Conservation, Observation Recommended Moth Plants 37 Moth Profiles 129 Acknowledgments 243 Appendix 245 Recommended Host Plant Quick Reference Lists Glossary 249 Resources 253 Sources 255 Image Credits 257 Index 261
£26.09
Johns Hopkins University Press The Sting of the Wild
Book SynopsisWith colorful descriptions of each venom's sensation and a story that leaves you tingling with awe, The Sting of the Wild's one-of-a-kind style will fire your imagination.Trade ReviewSchmidt's tales will prove infectiously engaging even to entomophobes. Publishers Weekly On Schmidt's pain scale, this book rates a zero-painless. On the pleasure scale, it rates a ten, a highly enjoyable read. Natural History Readers who share my fascination with the natural world, and particularly those who revel in unusual animal facts, will love The Sting of the Wild. Between the Covers ... an excellent book... Newsweek [ The Sting of the Wild] is a good read, with valuable evolutionary context for bees and their insect relatives interwoven with entertaining travel tales of an engaged entomologist. American Bee Journal Even though the pain-laced topic might leave you wincing, Schmidt's engaging and entertaining writing makes for a tale worth reading. -- Jennifer Hackett Scientific American [Schmidt's] low-down on sting biochemistry and physiology is relentlessly zestful, even as he recounts the swelling, burning consequences of his curiosity. Nature The Sting of the Wild is full of the stories of science of stings. Schmidt is an engaging writer, and his youthful enthusiasm for scary critters makes for a book that will sometimes scare you and sometimes make you double over with laughter... It's a masterpiece of nature writing. Nature's Cool Green Science If you're interested in bugs of any kind, and especially the notorious ones, this book will entertain, educate, and excite. Discover Magazine Not only does he explain his Schmidt Sting Pain Index, wherein he rates the pain of numerous stings on a scale of one to four, but he also relates the fascinating natural histories of these animals. National Geographic ... totally fascinating... -- Jody Avirgan FiveThirtyEight The arms race that created the stinger hypodermic, and its biochemical warfare toxins, was a direct result of communal nesting, because the greater risk of predation demanded a formidable defensive strategy. This is the evolutionary theme through which the author lovingly interjects his own personal anecdotes. BBC Wildlife Magazine It's hard to imagine a nature book being more fascinating and fun. Virgin Radio UK In addition to providing colorful, connoisseur-grade descriptions of the pain caused by stings, The Sting of the Wild provides all sorts of information about stinging insects. Newser ... beautifully written... like nothing else you have ever read. -- Ira Flatow NPR's Science Friday ...[The Sting of the Wild] is full of adventure, humor and Schmidt's impressive scholarship. Redlands Daily Facts Schmidt, an entomologist at the Southwestern Biological Institute, is an excellent writer. He can write clear, engaging explanations of sting evolution and venom chemistry, as well as spin a good yarn about his adventures collecting stinging insects. I enjoyed his dry, judiciously applied, wit. Pica Hudsonia ... The Sting of the Wild weaves [Schmidt's] theories about stinging insects through a narrative of his personal experiences digging in the dirt. For many readers, the highlight of the book will be the appendix, his celebrated Pain Scale for Stinging Insects, which rates the pain level of dozens of insect stings, an index he created mostly by firsthand experience, either by suffering stings incidentally during field research or, in some cases, by inducing them. Because stings of the same magnitude don't necessarily feel the same, Schmidt has written haiku-like descriptions for each of the 83 sting entries." NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE The Sting of the Wild is a delicate and highly refreshing glimpse into the private mind of a professional scientist. TLS Schmidt's story is really new, refreshing and thoroughly entertaining. Journal of Natural History This is an informative and engaging story about the fascinating lives behind the insects that you may just think of as very annoying visitors at picnics. The Biologist ... surprisingly joyful book... Schmidt does a good job of passing on his boundless enthusiasm for insects. The sting of the wild is an easy read, packed with chemistry and anecdotes. Chemistry World The Sting of the Wild sheds light on the mysteries of stinging insects in a delightful and humorous narration. I recommend the book to every entomologist, ecologist, and naturalist interested in exploring the impressive world of Hymenoptera. American EntomologistTable of ContentsPreface1. Stung2. The Stinger3. The First Stinging Insects4. The Pain Truth5. Sting Science6. Sweat Bees and Fire Ants7. Yellowjackets and Wasps8. Harvester Ants9. Tarantula Hawks and Solitary Wasps10. Bullet Ants11. Honey Bees and HumansAppendixReferencesIndex
£19.47
Johns Hopkins University Press Cockroaches
Book SynopsisStudents and research entomologists can mine each chapter for new ideas, new perspectives, and new directions for future study.Trade ReviewThis transformative work will be an inspiration to students of entomology. Choice A must-have for any insect hobbyest. Allpet Roaches Forum This contribution is an important source of information on cockroach natural history and diversity. -- Frederic Legendre Quarterly Review of Biology This is a well-written book that is also visually attractive... This book is much needed to educate biologists about the fascinating biology and diversity of cockroaches. -- Srini Kambhampati Integrative and Comparative Biology Well suited for any collection delving into insect natural history. Midwest Book Review Suitable for researchers, students, and naturalists, chapters are topical, exploring the diversity of cockroaches. Southeastern NaturalistTable of ContentsForeword, by Edward O.WilsonPreface1. Shape, Color, and Size2. Locomotion: Ground, Water, and Air3. Habitats4. Diets and Foraging5. Microbes6. Mating Strategies7. Reproduction8. Social Behavior9. Termites as Social Cockroaches10. Ecological ImpactAppendixGlossaryReferencesIndex
£65.02
Johns Hopkins University Press Insects
Book SynopsisDesigned as an introduction to the intriguing world of insect biology, this book examines familiar entomological topics in nontraditional ways. Author David B. Rivers gives important concepts relatable context through a pop culture lens, and he covers subjects that are not typical for entomology textbooks, including the impact of insects on the human condition, the sex lives of insects, why insects are phat but not fat, forensic entomology, and the threats that some insects pose to humanity. Each chapter presents clear and concise key concepts, chapter reviews, review questions following Bloom's taxonomy of learning, web links to videos and other resources, and breakout boxes (called Fly Spots) that capture student interest with unique and entertaining facts related to entomology. Focusing on both traditional and cutting-edge aspects of insect biology and packed with extensive learning resources, Insects covers a wide range of topics suitable for life science majors, as well as non-Trade ReviewThe author presents an interesting discussion of a broad range of insect natural history. . . Recommended.—ChoiceWith the wide range of included topics, everyone will find something of interest, even if they are only mildly interested in insects.—Quarterly Review of BiologyRivers has produced a textbook with a difference and I am sure that any undergraduate studying general insect biology will find it useful and informative.—The BiologistTable of ContentsContents Preface Why this book Features of world domination References Chapter 1 An Introduction to Insects: Busting the Myths, Lies and Urban Legends Overview Key Concepts No better time than now to find out what an insect actually is! Who cares about insects, or why study them damn bugs? Insects are the most successful animals on the planet Insects are bad, bad, bad! What I have learned on my own: Insects are way cool How do you know it is not a spider? "Bugs" vs. insects. The importance of knowing what you are talking about Chapter Review Mushroom Farming (Self test) References The Entomologist Bookshelf Additional Resources Chapter 2 History of Entomology: a discipline founded on death Overview Key Concepts Unwelcomed guests since the beginning of the human 'party' Insect plagues and deities in ancient and modern civilizations Naturalists, physicians and the clergy: An intriguing new pinup calendar or prominent figures in entomology? Politicians at work: two acts of congress established entomology in North America War anyone? Insects have been the true victors of most wars Evolution of entomology: insects as tools for biology, agriculture and war Chapter Review Mushroom Farming (Self test) References The Entomologist Bookshelf Additional Resources Chapter 3 Insects are not all bad: beneficial aspects of insect-human interactions Overview Key Concepts Insects as our 'friends' From bee puke to scale poop: useful insect products Oh the wonderful things that insects does! Insects got class: cultural influences of six-legged creatures A religious experience Laws, litigation, and insects as evidence Chapter Review Mushroom Farming (Self test) References The Entomologist Bookshelf Additional Resources Chapter 4 Insects shaping human civilization: turns out they might be bad after all Overview Key Concepts You're making it tough to be friends! What does it mean to be an insect pest? Why are they so good at being bad? Where has all the food gone? Agricultural pests Lets live together: Household pests They just 'bug' me: Annoying insects Insects, disease and human civilizations: Medically important pests Implications for modern societies Chapter Review Mushroom Farming (Self test) References The Entomologist Bookshelf Additional Resources Chapter 5 'Dressed' for success: the insect body plan Overview Key Concepts Jointed, boneless, and proud of it: An introduction to the Phylum Arthropoda Arthropods are old! Insects and their kin Phylogenetic surf 'n' turf: Arthropods dominate land and sea Less is more: Characteristics of the Insecta Why have insects been so successful? Chapter Review Mushroom Farming (Self test) References The Entomologist Bookshelf Additional Resources Chapter 6 The insect's new cloths: growing by shedding Overview Key Concepts Crunchy on the outside, gooey on the inside Eat, grow, shed: the development plan The insect's new clothes: exoskeleton What to do when your pants don't fit: molt To metamorphose, or not metamorphose, that is the question Chapter Review Mushroom Farming (Self test) References The Entomologist Bookshelf Additional Resources Chapter 7 Insect Facebook: the basics of insect classification Overview Key Concepts Why should I care how to identify an insect? Thank you Linnaeus! binomial classification Insect crib notes: key features used to identify adult insects Insect diversity Classification by taste: Seriously? Chapter Review Mushroom Farming (Self test) References The Entomologist Bookshelf Additional Resources Chapter 8 Insects are phat but not fat: diet, nutrition, and food assimilation Overview Key Concepts What's on the menu? Nutrient requirements of insects Tools of the trade: Structures used for food collection Why insects don't get fat but people do Eating 'crap' makes sense! Food processing depends on what was eaten It is only efficient if you can use it: Food assimilation Chapter Review Mushroom Farming (Self test) References The Entomologist Bookshelf Additional Resources Chapter 9 Sex in the city and everywhere else: insect reproductive strategies Overview Key Concepts Sex or no sex: methods of reproduction used by insects Evolving sex: adaptive tradeoffs of sexual reproductive strategies Insects are sexually dimorphic inside and out CCC: Calling, courting and copulation The kings (queens) of fertilization Get me out of here: methods of egg dispersal And know for something completely different: novelty behaviors Chapter Review Mushroom Farming (Self test) References The Entomologist Bookshelf Additional Resources Chapter 10 You can teach an insect new tricks: learning and memory in six- legged beasts Overview Key Concepts Darwin and insect behavior Ganglionic architecture: new age building designs or the key to insect neurological functions? The genetic basis for learning, memory, and innateness Born to do it: innate behaviors Learning in insects: there is no remedial class! How insects can tell its raining and other environmental fun facts Chapter Review Mushroom Farming (Self test) References The Entomologist Bookshelf Additional Resources Chapter 11 Instant messaging in the insect world: communication with kin and non-kin Overview Key Concepts Communication is the key to every successful relationship The basics of insect communication Visual displays, camouflage, and mimicry Insect phonics: auditory messages in the insect world. Whiff this! Chemical communication Chemical dependency: on being a social insect Interspecies chemical communication Chapter Review Mushroom Farming (Self test) References The Entomologist Bookshelf Additional Resources Chapter 12 Small but fortified: insects are not defenseless Overview Key Concepts What are insects afraid of? Predatory and parasitic threats. Hide and seek: the use of camouflage and mimicry to stay alive. Behavioral tactics to combat predators and parasites. Chemicals to the rescue: allelochemicals. Keep out! The role of the exoskeleton in protection from parasites. Oh those wonderful hemocytes! Chapter Review Mushroom Farming (Self test) References The Entomologist Bookshelf Additional Resources Chapter 13 Life on the edge: coping with stress Overview Key Concepts Talk about stressed: 24/7, 365 days a year Dealing with stress on a typical day: general stress responses Environmental tokens tell the tale of impending changes Seasonality and insect life history traits Genetic regulation of seasonal survival Coping with the unknown: aseasonality Chapter Review Mushroom Farming (Self test) References The Entomologist Bookshelf Additional Resources Chapter 14 Revenge of the humans: insects as the hunted Overview Key Concepts A few bad apples: insects that are pests Insect control before the advent of electricity The golden age of killing: insecticides and death Silent Spring and the end to the eradication dream Sustainability and management: a new way of proceeding Towers of death, scents of love, and recombinant weapons: tools of the 21st Century Chapter Review Mushroom Farming (Self test) References The Entomologist Bookshelf Additional Resources Chapter 15 Forensic Entomology: insects as tools in legal investigations Overview Key Concepts Murder, termites and weevils: the many faces of forensic entomology There's a fly in my soup: should I sue? Home invasion: matters for urban entomology Maggots, murder and men The fly who loved me: myiasis and cases of neglect Maggots on crack: agents of toxicology Chapter Review Mushroom Farming (Self test) References The Entomologist Bookshelf Additional Resources Chapter 16 Insect mercenaries: weapons for human warfare and national security Overview Key Concepts Historical perspectives of entomological weaponry Insects as agents of terror Whiff this: insect sniffer systems Insect espionage: cyborgs and surveillance An insect for an insect: entomological counterterrorism Chapter Review Mushroom Farming (Self test) References The Entomologist Bookshelf Additional Resources Chapter 17 Invasive and elusive: new insect threats to the human condition Overview Key Concepts How can there be new threats today? Same old story: accidental introduction Impact of human interference: non-accidental introductions Insect activity following natural disasters Global warming, climate change, and insects Chapter Review Mushroom Farming (Self test) References The Entomologist Bookshelf Additional Resources Appendix Sources of insects Sources of insect materials Sources of insect-related paraphernalia
£71.82
Johns Hopkins University Press Honeybee Hotel
Book SynopsisThe fascinating story of the urban honeybee garden on the roof of the legendary Waldorf Astoria hotel. The tale of Honeybee Hotel begins over one hundred years ago, with the Astor family and the birth of the iconic Manhattan landmark, the magnificent Waldorf Astoria. In those early days the posh art deco masterpiece had its own rooftop garden for guests to enjoy. Fast-forward to the turn of the twenty-first century, and we meet executive chef David Garcelon, the creative genius behind the idea of restoring the celebrated rooftop garden. His vision included six hives containing some 300,000 honeybees, which would provide a unique flavor for his restaurant's culinary masterpieces. Yet Garcelon's dream was much grander than simply creating a private chefs' garden: he wanted the honeybee garden to serve as a bond among people. Soon the staff of the hotel, the guests, local horticulturists, and beekeeping experts formed a community around the bees and the garden, which not only raised vegTrade ReviewAn inside story that will be loved by history buffs, gardening fans, and bee lovers alike.—Chicago Botanic Garden "One Book One Garden" Program[Day] weaves details of the bees' lifecycle with accounts of charity events, interviews with chefs and several pages of Waldorf recipes . . . Honeybee Hotel is absorbing and readable.—Sara Hudston, Times Literary SupplementTable of ContentsPreface Chapter 1. Welcome to the Waldorf Chapter 2. The First American Tycoon: John Jacob Astor in New York CityChapter 3. Before the Empire State Building, the Waldorf Astoria Stood HereChapter 4. Life of the Honeybee: From Egg to AdultChapter 5. A Good Chef Is Like a Musician: David Garcelon’s JourneyChapter 6. Life of the Female Honeybee: Janitor, Forager, and Everything In-BetweenChapter 7. An Idea Blossoms: Chef Garcelon’s First Hotel Garden and ApiaryChapter 8. Life of the Male Honeybee: The DroneChapter 9. Twenty Stories High: A Vision of the Waldorf’s Honeybee GardenChapter 10. Life of the Queen: Mother of Them AllChapter 11. Bringing Bees and a Garden to the WaldorfChapter 12. Beekeeping through the AgesChapter 13. A Match Made in Heaven: St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church and the Waldorf Astoria HotelChapter 14. In the Dark of the Hive: The Sensory World of the HoneybeeChapter 15. Across the Street, but Worlds Apart: Feeding the Hungry at St. Bart’sChapter 16. Apples, Lavender, Tomatoes, and Tarragon—Exploring the Waldorf’s Garden with Chef Betz Chapter 17. Wings!Chapter 18. Fare Share Friday: New York City Hotels Give BackChapter 19. Epilogue. Saving the Treasures at the WaldorfWaldorf Astoria Kitchen and Peacock Alley Bar Recipes Using HoneyAcknowledgmentsBibliographyIndex
£18.05
Johns Hopkins University Press Observing Evolution
Book SynopsisA firsthand account of how a modest moth demonstrated Darwin's theory of natural selection. The extraordinary tale of the humble peppered moth is at the very foundation of our acceptance of Darwinian evolution. When scientists in the early twentieth century discovered that a British population of the small, speckled Biston betularia had become black over the course of mere decades in response to the Industrial Revolution's encroaching soot, the revelation cemented Darwin's theory of natural selection. This finding was the staple example of evolution in action until the turn of the millennium, when proponents of Creationism fomented doubts about the legitimacy of early experiments. In the midst of this upheaval, evolutionary biologist Bruce S. Grant and his contemporaries were determinedly building a dataset that would ultimately vindicate the theory of industrial melanism in the peppered moth and, by extension, the theory of natural selection itself. Observing Evolution tells the remTrade ReviewHighly recommended.—Malcolm Peaker, Zoology JottingsGrant's writing is accessible, his explanations of complex science easily digestible, and he is full of genuinely amusing stories. If you ever doubted the validity of this iconic example of rapid evolution, Observing Evolution will set you straight.—Natural History BookshopFor others who simply enjoy a good scientific detective story, this is among the best.—British Journal of Entomology and Natural HistoryIn this engaging book, Grant documents the places he went and the extraordinary people he met, on this quest to understand parts of the peppered moth story that did not quite add up.—James Mallet, Harvard University, EvolutionHighly recommended for all biology students, especially those interested in entomology and evolutionary biology...It's a real treat to read about some of the giants of entomological research.—Andrew Wakeham-Dawson, Entomologist's Monthly MagazineProvides a rare, unfiltered glimpse into what doing science is actually like....For Grant, the process of becoming an authority on peppered moths was a truly ground-up affair that began unplanned, with nothing more than a question. To begin working with Biston, he needed to step outside of what, at the time, was his well-defined scientific comfort zone of lab-based research....On a fundamental level, this book reveals that there's an art to doing science.—Richard Gawne, Tufts University, Journal of Experimental Zoology: Molecular and Developmental EvolutionFascinating...Grant's story is both personal and engaging...His book presents a validation of natural selection data plus a critical assessment of speculation over 50 years in a gripping personal science adventure story.—Stephen J. O'Brien, Journal of HeredityThis book chronicles Grant's efforts to wrestle with details of the operation of natural selection in wild populations of widely geographically separated species of the peppered moth....Grant is a good writer and a great storyteller....[He] is clearly devoted to the scientific process, and wide open to his research subjects showing him something completely unexpected.—The American Biology TeacherPerhaps what is most special about Grant's chronicle is the passion with which he writes about scientific practice. His love of biology shines through, and it is quite contagious.—History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences[Grant] beautifully describes how science works and what it is like to be a practicing evolutionary scientist. I recommend his book to all readers, but especially to students. I cannot think of another volume that might be as great an inspiration.—Douglas J. Futuyma, Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsPart I1. Passing the Baton2. Peppered Moths 1013. Catching Moths Using Light Traps4. Camouflage5. The Rest-Site Selection Controversy6. A Feeling for the Organism7. Elizabethan Moths8. Non-Random Rest-Site Selection in Captivity9. Life at Mountain Lake10. Travel ArrangementsPart II11. Wirral Welcome12. Coffee with the Clarkes13. Clockwork Orange14. Surface Reflectance15. How to Pick Up a Moth16. The Birch Moth17. Cultural Assimilation18. Caterpillars19. Long Season's End20. Yankees Go HomePart III21. From Field to Lab22. The Talk23. The Grand PubPart IV24. Summer School25. CoauthorsPart V26. Nihongo27. Gaijin28. Reception29. Around Town30. In The Field31. Tajima32. Fisheries Lab33. Hokkaido34. Tourists35. Nagano36. East Meets WestPart VI37. Serendipity38. Allelic Melanism39. Conspecific Pheromones40. Howard Hughes Lecture41. Mr. Parallel Evolution42. Aerogrammes43. Edwin S. George Reserve44. Farewell and Welcome45. Nature46. Round Two47. Oxfordshire48. New York Times49. Expanding Views50. EpilogueBibliography
£46.35
University of Toronto Press The Caddisfly Family Phryganeidae Trichoptera
Book SynopsisThe goal of much of the scientific work in natural history museums is to explore and document the biological diversity of the planet. This book is an outstanding example of the museum tradition, offering the results of global research on the biosystematics of one of the families of case-making caddisflies, the Phryganeidae. Throughout his career as a museum curator, Glenn Wiggins has studied and written extensively on caddisflies of the aquatic insect order Trichoptera.Information acquired from field work and museum collections, and from the biological literature is synthesized into a taxonomic monograph. The Phryganeidae are the largest of all the caddisflies, but existing literature has led to problems in species identification, especially in Asia; nine species names were found to be synonyms of others, an unsually high proportion of 10 per cent of the described species. Fifteen genera comprising seventy-four species are recognized here, including three that are new to sc
£34.20
University of Texas Press Common Insects of Texas and Surrounding States
Book SynopsisThanks to its size and geographic position, Texas is home to nearly 30,000 species of insects, likely making its insect population the most diverse in the nation. Ranging from eastern and western to temperate and tropical species, this vast array of insects can be difficult to identify. In Common Insects of Texas and Surrounding States, John and Kendra Abbott have created the state''s most comprehensive field guide to help readers recognize and understand these fascinating creatures.Containing 1,300 species and more than 2,700 photographs, this guide offers a wealth of information about the characteristics and behaviors of Texas''s insects. Each chapter introduces an order with a discussion of general natural history and a description of other qualities helpful in distinguishing its various species, while every species'' entry provides a state map showing where it is most likely to be found, a key displaying its seasonal distribution, information about its habitat, andTable of Contents Key to Color Groupings Acknowledgments Introduction Classification and Nomenclature What Is an Insect? Insect Diversity Insect Growth and Development Studying Insects Endangered Arthropods in Texas How to Use This Guide Insects of Texas Springtails (Collembola) Two-pronged Bristletails (Diplura) Bristletails (Archaeognatha) Silverfish (Zygentoma) Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) Dragonflies & Damselflies (Odonata) Stoneflies (Plecoptera) Caddisflies (Trichoptera) Earwigs (Dermaptera) Webspinners (Embiidina) Angel Insects (Zoraptera) Barklice, Booklice, and True Lice (Psocodea) Thrips (Thysanoptera) Fleas (Siphonaptera) Twisted-winged Parasites (Strepsiptera) Grasshoppers, Katydids & Crickets (Orthoptera) Walkingsticks (Phasmida) Mantids (Mantodea) Cockroaches (Blattodea) Termites (Blattodea) True Bugs (Hemiptera) Lacewings, Antlions & Allies (Neuroptera) Alderflies, Dobsonflies & Fishflies (Megaloptera) Snakeflies (Raphidioptera) Scorpionflies & Hangingflies (Mecoptera) Beetles (Coleoptera) Flies (Diptera) Butterflies & Moths (Lepidoptera) Ants, Bees, Wasps & Sawflies (Hymenoptera) Other Arthropods (Arachnids, Crustaceans & Myriapods) Additional Resources Photographic Credits Glossary Index About the Authors
£19.94
University of Nebraska Press Mosquitoes SUCK
Book SynopsisMosquitoes SUCK! is a vibrant graphic novel illustrating information about mosquito biology, ecology, and disease transmission needed for community-based control efforts.Trade Review“Simply brilliant! A fresh, accessible, and vibrant sketch of the not-so-simple mosquito and of our struggle with her deadly diseases.”—Timothy C. Winegard, author of the New York Times best seller The Mosquito: A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator“Centered on a youth perspective and full of characters (human and not) for youth to identify with, Mosquitoes SUCK! is valuable for curious readers of [all] ages.”—Julia McQuillan, Willa Cather Professor of Sociology at the University of Nebraska–LincolnTable of ContentsGRAPHIC STORIES Mosquito Museum The Hard Life Of Mosquito Moms Ridding The World Of Pesky Mosquitoes ESSAYS The Eternal Mosquito Mosquitoes Suck Mosquitoes Or Humans? POSTERS Yellow Fever Mosquito Northern House Mosquito African Malaria Mosquito Don’t Feed The Mosquitoes! AUTHORS’ NOTE
£11.39
Cornell University Press The Observation Hive Handbook
Book SynopsisThis book will guide you in selecting an observation hive and choosing a site for it, modifying the hive and the site as needed, installing the hive, working with the hive, and maintaining the hive. It will prepare you to take a temporary portable observation hive to a market, fair, or school. Most important, it describes and illustrates the...Trade ReviewLinton, a certified master beekeeper, discusses the various options for constructing an observation hive.... This book is written primarily for experienced beekeepers, offering sound advice for those wishing to set up an observation hive.... Very well-written. * Choice *I wish I would have had this book 30 years ago when I started my first observation hive. It would have saved me a lot of time and energy and money, and if you don't already have one (and why not?), it will do the same for you.... If you have plans for, or already have one of these [hives], you need this book. It's worth every penny. * Bee Culture *Table of ContentsForeword, by Clarence H. Collison Preface Acknowledgments 1. Benefits of Observing Honey Bees at Home 2. Preparing for and Selecting an Observation Hive 3. Installing Your Observation Hive 4. Working an Observation Hive 5. Maintaining Your Observation Hive 6. Observation Hives in Public Spaces 7. Bee Photography and Your Observation Hive 8. Things to Try with Your Observation Hive A Closing Word Appendix: Selection and Installation Checklist Bibliography Index
£17.99
Texas A & M University Press A Dazzle of Dragonflies
Book SynopsisFrom fossils and folklore to life cycles and the latest in digital imaging techniques, A Dazzle of Dragonflies will take you into the far-reaching and sometimes secret world of one of our most beneficial insects. The guides are two of the most experienced and ardent fans of the ""mosquitohawk,"" and your journey will include encounters with poets and prehistoric giants; peeks into hidden, watery universes; side trips to garden ponds and scientific laboratories; and much more. Pioneers in the electronic imaging of insects and creators of the award-winning website Digital Dragonflies, the authors share their spectacular scans of live dragonflies, enhanced with beautiful photographs that showcase them in their natural environment. Imparting a lifelong passion for these remarkable creatures, the authors also ask us to join them in some hands-on activities to increase our awareness of and interaction with dragonflies - from tips on creating a dragonfly garden to instructions for catching, photographing, and scanning them. Get ready to have your eyes opened by this true education about all things ""dragonfly.Trade ReviewCreatures of the sunlight that pirouette on sparkling wings in plain view of all who take the time to look, dragonflies are nonetheless among the most elusive of insects. Few people get a close look at these ever-vigilant aerial predators, and fewer still know what they are seeing. - from the Introduction
£31.96
Texas A & M University Press Native Host Plants for Texas Butterflies: A Field Guide
Book SynopsisWhile many growers focus on attracting adult butterflies to their gardens, fewer know about the plants that caterpillars need to survive. Native host plants—wildflowers, trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and sedges—not only provide a site for the butterfly to lay its eggs, they also provide a ready food source for the emerging caterpillar. Think of these plants as the nurseries of the garden. This user-friendly, heavily illustrated field guide describes 101 native larval host plants in Texas. Each species account includes descriptive information on each plant, a distribution map, and photos of both the caterpillars and adult butterflies who frequent those plants.An adult butterfly may nectar on a wide variety of flowers, but caterpillars are much more restricted in their food sources. Some feed on only a limited number of plant species, so female butterflies seek out these specific plants to lay their eggs. For example, the host plants for Monarch caterpillars are various species of milkweed. Often, these plants are not the same as the ones the adult butterfly will later use for nectar.Learning more about the plants caterpillars need is crucial for butterfly conservation. Butterflies' dependency on specific caterpillar host plants is one of the key factors restricting their range and distribution. Armed with this knowledge, readers can also hone their ability to find specific species of breeding butterflies in nature. This is a handy guide whether you are in the field searching for butterflies or on the hunt for butterfly-friendly options at your local plant sale.Trade ReviewA beautiful, inspiring tool for those wishing to understand the relationships between native plants and butterflies."" - Jim Brock, author of Butterflies of North America and A Field Guide to Caterpillars
£23.96
WW Norton & Co Aliens Among Us: Extraordinary Portraits of
Book SynopsisOver the course of his photography career, Daniel Kariko came to realise that many of his most stunning subjects could be found in his own home. Kariko utilises a combination of a Scanning Electron Microscope and optical Stereo Microscope to achieve a portrait-like effect for insects and arthropods. Vibrant in colour and surprising in personality, these images reveal such details as the glittering eyes of a horsefly, the strong legs of a centipede and the fetching smile of a honeybee. Each photograph comes with a full-body illustration from artist Isaac Talley and character descriptions from entomologist Tim Christensen. Blurring the lines of art and science, Aliens Among Us is a guidebook for anyone interested in putting a face to the creepy-crawlies under the couch.Trade Review"Kariko draws on different areas of interest – from historical natural science collections to Renaissance and Baroque painters – to bring us images of invertebrates as we’ve never seen them before. Using microscope imaging techniques, he carefully creates captivatingly detailed and beautiful portraits of common invertebrate species that he finds during his daily routines in North Carolina. The results can only be described as works of art." -- 20+ best books on insects and invertebrates - BBC Wildlife Magazine
£15.19
University Press of Florida The Surprising Lives of Bark Beetles: Mighty
Book SynopsisA loving look at one of the world’s most maligned, misunderstood, and fascinating insectsFamous foe of forestry professionals and despised spreader of Dutch elm disease, bark beetles have a bad reputation: the World’s Worst Forest Pests. They chew through timber profits and kill healthy trees, turning forests from carbon sinks into carbon sources. But entomologist Jiri Hulcr sees more to these evil weevils than meets the eye, and offers you a closer look—literally. With science journalist Marc Abrahams, Hulcr offers a funny and informative introduction to these under-studied and underappreciated insects. This lively book turns cutting-edge research into an enjoyable tour through the miniature world of a charming critter. Vivid macrophotography captures every aspect of bark beetle life in stunning detail, from their dramatic family stories and curiously endearing looks to their mating strategies, and the secret fungus farms where they cultivate their own “ambrosia.” You’ll learn how much we don’t know about bark beetles—and what that means for science’s attempts to control them as climate change alters their habitats. Whether you’re a scientist seeking up-to-date pest management strategies or you’re just wondering if your backyard trees are at risk, this book will help you better understand the latest discoveries in beetle symbioses, molecular biology, and ecology. But be warned: at the end of this read you may be filled with affection for these adorable and astonishing beetles.
£21.56
Wits University Press Dance of the Dung Beetles: Their role in our
Book SynopsisIn this sweeping history of more than 3 000 years, beginning with Ancient Egypt, scientist Marcus Byrne and writer, Helen Lunn capture the diversity of dung beetles and their unique behaviour patterns. Dung beetles’ fortunes have followed the shifts from a world dominated by a religion that symbolically incorporated them into some of its key concepts of rebirth, to a world in which science has largely separated itself from religion and alchemy. With over 6 000 species found throughout the world, these unassuming but remarkable creatures are fundamental to some of humanity’s most cherished beliefs and have been ever present in religion, art, literature, science and the environment. They are at the centre of current gene research, play an important role in keeping our planet healthy, and some nocturnal dung beetles have been found to navigate by the starry skies. Outlining the development of science from the point of view of the humble dung beetle is what makes this charming story of immense interest to general readers and entomologists alike.Table of Contents Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter One When the dung beetle wore golden shoes Chapter Two Crawling out of the darkness Chapter Three Joining the dots Chapter Four Colonising insects Chapter Five Of elephants and dung beetles Chapter Six Tribes with human attributes Chapter Seven Design construction first Conclusion: ‘What a wonderful world’ Appendices Select bibliography Index
£28.50
Reaktion Books Beetle
Book SynopsisFrom ancient Egyptian deities to German automobiles, beetles have left an indelible mark on human cultures around the world. Comprising more than 350,000 species, beetles are among the most prolific animals on Earth, even if we rarely give them a second thought. In this book Adam Dodd explores the world of the beetle and its sometimes astounding and bizarre intersections with the world of the human being.Beetle relates this resilient insect's emergence from the 'Great Dying' extinction event some 250 million years ago, showing how it became a permanent fixture in the natural world, thriving in the inhabitation of niches. Inspiring early occult beliefs and religious myths, the beetle also finds its way into art, folklore, literature and science. Dodd uncovers the beetle's ongoing place in the aesthetic appreciation of nature, and shows how knowledge of beetle anatomy is assisting the development of cutting-edge cybernetics, blurring the boundary between science and fiction.Thoroughly illustrated, bursting with historical detail and accessibly written, this cultural and natural history of the beetle is sure to change the way readers think about their relationship with these ancient, enduringly captivating animals.
£13.95
Reaktion Books Bee
Book SynopsisClaire Preston's Bee tells the busy story of our long, complex relationship with this industrious, much-admired insect. Moving from ancient political descriptions to Renaissance debates about monarchy, to the conversion of the virtuous and civil bee into the dangerous swarm of the Hollywood horror flick, and finally to the melancholy recognition that the modern decline of the bee is due to our use of harmful pesticides and destruction of the bee's habitat, this timely new edition could not arrive at a moment of greater buzz. Lively, engaging, and containing many fascinating bee facts, anecdotes, fables, and images, Bee is a sweeping, highly illustrated natural and cultural history of this familiar visitor to our gardens and parks. From beekeepers to anyone with an interest in bees' intricate, miniature societies, to all of us who enjoy honey on our toast, the appeal of Preston's exploration of how bees have woven themselves into the fabric of our culture is as expansive as the range and importance of these tiny workaholics themselves.Trade Review"Engaging. . . . An excellent example of how cultural history can entertainingly cross borders."--BBC History Magazine "It is an outstanding book: marvellously researched and annotated, superbly illustrated and exceptionally well written. . . . Preston must have played the bee herself in her meticulous preparation for this book, and she has done this esteemed creature the great service it merits."--Times Literary Supplement "Even the most widely read beekeeper will find something new here. . . . Most pages of this beautifully presented book have excellent and interesting illustrations. . . . It is a great book to read if you want to gain a wider perspective of bees' role within our human society."--Bees for Development Journal "The kind of book I was looking for when I started beekeeping, a general overview of bees as they have appeared in history, art, and society. Preston presents the true, the absurd and everything in between about honey bees by tracing their reality, mythology, and folklore. . . . fascinating. . . . I recommend . . . sitting down to enjoy Preston's new book Bee."--Cynthia Allen "Bee Culture " "With so many fascinating facts, fables and arcana from art, science, literature and apiculture, Bee offers a compelling meditation on the fortune's of nature's workaholic."--American Bee Journal "Easily the best of several recent bee books. . . . Presents her information cogently and attractively . . . Bee is excellent."--James Fleming "Spectator "
£14.18
